Then said AEneas, and as he spake the fire came nearer, and the light was clearer to see, and the heat more fierce, “Climb, dear father, on my shoulders; I will bear thee, nor grow weary with the weight.  We will be saved or perish together.  The little Ascanius shall go with me, and my wife follow behind, not over near.  And ye, servants of my house, hearken to me; ye mind how that to one who passes out of the city there is a tomb and a temple of Ceres in a lonely place, and an ancient cypress-tree hard by.  There will we gather by divers ways.  And do thou, my father, take the holy images in thy hands, for as for me, who have but newly come from battle, I may not touch them till I have washed me in the running stream.”

And as he spake he put a cloak of lion’s skin upon his shoulders, and the old man sat thereon.  Ascanius also laid hold of his hand, and Creusa followed behind.  So he went in much dread and trembling.  For indeed before sword and spear of the enemy he had not feared, but now he feared for them that were with him.  But when he was come nigh unto the gates, and the journey was well-nigh finished, there befell a grievous mischance, for there was heard a sound as of many feet through the darkness; and the old man cried to him, “Fly, my son, fly; they are coming.  I see the flashing of shields and swords.”  But as AEneas hasted to go, Creusa his wife was severed from him.  But whether she wandered from the way or sat down in weariness, no man may say.  Only he saw her no more, nor knew her to be lost, till all his company being met at the temple of Ceres, she only was found wanting.  Very grievous did the thing seem to him, nor did he cease to cry out in his wrath against Gods and men.  Also he bade his comrades have a care of his father and his son, and of the household gods, and girded him again with arms, and so passed into the city.  And first he went to the wall and to the gate by which he had come forth, and then to his house, if haply she had returned thither.  But there indeed the men of Greece were come, and the fire had well-nigh mastered it.  And after that he went to the citadel and to the palace of King Priam.  And lo! in the porch of Juno’s temple, Phoenix and Ulysses were keeping guard over the spoil, even the treasure of the temples, tables of the Gods, and solid cups of gold, and raiment, and a long array of them that had been taken captive, children and women.  But not the less did he seek his wife through all the streets of the city, yea, and called her aloud by name.  But lo! as he called, the image of her whom he sought seemed to stand before him, only greater than she had been while she was yet alive.  And the spirit spake, saying, “Why art thou vainly troubled?  These things have not befallen us against the pleasure of the Gods.  The ruler of Olympus willeth not that Creusa should bear thee company in thy journey.  For thou hast a long journey to take, and many seas to cross, till thou come to the